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1. Raising Students' Awareness of the Varieties of English

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 2 Format(s): Image / Poster / Maps

   This article argues that EFL students need to be familiar with different varieties of English. If EFL students hope to enter a global job market, knowledge of English around the world is essential. The author, an English teacher in Japan, proposes doing classroom workshops on language variation and English as a world language to broaden students’ views of language.

2. Using Identity to Introduce ICC Skills in the EFL Classroom

   In: English Teaching Forum 2020, Volume 58, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The authors describe a detailed, step-by-step procedure to help students analyze the concept of identity—with the use of “identity wheels” and a knowledge-skills-attitudes framework—and apply their understanding to develop intercultural communicative competence

3. Finding Heterogeneity in Cultural Homogeneity

   In: English Teaching Forum 2021, Volume 59, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   The author points out that “even the most homogenous EFL class will have some cultural variety” and presents a “buffet” of activities designed to help students become curious about the differences they discover, analyze cultural values, and improve skills needed to communicate effectively with people of other cultures.

4. Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Working Together to Achieve Shared Goals

   In: English Teaching Forum 2024, Volume 62, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   Authors Lộc Thị Huỳnh Nguyễn and Fredricka L. Stoller share their own experiences as collaborators working together in person and on two distant continents, and they offer specific, detailed tips for others who are involved in cross-cultural collaborative projects or who may have the opportunity to collaborate in the future.

5. Creating Positive Attitudes Towards English as a Foreign Language

   In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 4 Format(s): Text

   The author reviews research on the connections between attitudes and language learning, and between attitudes and motivation. The article suggests that language learners’ motivation and attitudes can influence learning outcomes, and that effective teaching can change negative attitudes. It describes a classroom action research project that was carried out among 95 students in Turkey to examine attitudes and motivation for English learning. Results and possible factors are discussed with regard to the students’ attitudes and motivation.

6. Fishing—A Sport for All Seasons

   In: English Teaching Forum 2011, Volume 49, Number 2 Format(s): Text

   Fishing is the feature lesson topic for this issue. Catching fish with hooks is known as angling, which is why fishermen are typically called anglers. Americans fish in urban and rural settings and enjoy many different kinds of fishing including bass fishing, fly fishing and ice fishing. The article discusses recent trends in fishing, including high-tech tools such as GPS devices.

7. Hawai'i: The Aloha State

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This reading about the geography, history, and culture of Hawaii can be used with this issue's lesson plan or on its own. The author includes information about the Hawaiian Islands and offers illustrative, culturally sensitive photographs. Larger sections describe Hawaii's tourism industry and history. The author includes a glossary of Hawaiian vocabulary.

8. Lesson Plan: Cultural Crossroads: Hawaii and Beyond

   In: English Teaching Forum 2009, Volume 47, Number 1 Format(s): Text

   This content-based lesson plan is about ethnic/cultural heritage and diversity in Hawaii. It also encourages students to explore their own cultures. The author includes four activities (listening and speaking, small group discussion, place-based group work, and role play). Ideas are also provided for multi-session lessons that encourage students to revise and communicate.

9. From Passive Participant to Active Thinker

   In: English Teaching Forum 2005, Volume 43, Number 3 Format(s): Text

   This article discusses how, through materials development, teachers can help students think critically and feel comfortable enough to be active participants in class. The author suggests adapting materials to be more relevant to the interests and needs of students in a particular context. Another suggestion is to create materials that help students connect their thoughts and feelings to the language they are learning. The author includes techniques to promote critical thinking and learner autonomy.

10. Encourage Critical Reading in the EFL Classroom

    In: English Teaching Forum 2006, Volume 44, Number 1 Format(s): Text

    Using a reading lesson designed for advanced university students in Brazil, the author discusses different types of exercises that can help students become more active readers and be more critical about the reading materials. The author distinguishes between passive and active reading tasks and argues that active tasks are more beneficial because they encourage readers to read between the lines. The author describes some pre-reading, while-reading, and post-reading activities.

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